The Hyde SOS Syringe Services Program distributes sterile syringes and encourages the secure disposal of used syringes to reduce sharing, reuse, and public safety risks. 

Please find the Security Plan for the Syringe Exchange Program at this link.

We serve intravenous drug users needing clean needles and other harm reduction resources. 

Using a sterile syringe for each injection can prevent infections, abscesses and the transmission of Hepatitis C and HIV. The program also provides other harm reduction resources such as condoms and naloxone. The program also helps connect participants to other medical and social services, including treatment for substance abuse, mental health conditions, and testing/treatment for HIV and Hepatitis C.

The number of SSP participants has remained consistent at 41 participants in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, there were 680 fentanyl test strips distributed in 2022 and 515 strips distributed in 2023. The number of syringes distributed decreased from 2022 to 2023 due to decreased demand. In 2022, HCHD began working to increase the number of used syringes it collects from its SSP participants; therefore, a large number of used syringes were collected that year, as participants had a large quantity of syringes in their possessions at that time. The number of used syringes collected leveled back out in 2023. 

Program participation, supply distribution, and syringe collection have all remained consistent since 2023. The program did begin distributing an additional harm reduction item in 2025 as a result of requests from program participants: Xylazine test strips.